Bumper tool



Nov. 4, 1952 A', A, s, HAKKERUP 2,616,317

BUMPER TOOL Filed Feb. 8, 1950 IN V EN T 0R. /zfsa ,4f/mma? Mu/@Paca Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE BUMPER TOOL Alfred Alexander S. Hakkerup, New Hyde Park, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1950, Serial No. 142,999

My present invention relates generally to straightening tools, and more particularly to a bumper tool adapted to 'straighten or restore the form of deformed bumper guards.

In collision work done in garages and auto repair shops many hours are spent in an attempt to straighten out bent and twisted bumper guards, chassis frame sections and the like. Often the tools employed, such as a Stillson wrench, are not only inadequate, but leave plated parts of a car marred and dsflgured.

It is an important object of my present invention to provide a simple and highly useful tool which may. be used quickly to straighten out deformed bumpers without fear of marring the finish plate.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a bumper straightener tool which may be assembled in a minimum amount of time with standard pipe ttings.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of my bumper straightening tool,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the tool, broken away and in section,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bumper tool in use at one end of a bumper,

Fig. 4 is a side view oi the tool used along the top edge of a bumper,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the modified bumper tool.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference numerals denote like structural elements, my novel and highly useful straightener tool generally consists of an arcuate claw arm I of uniform thickness. The arm I tapers towards a terminal claw 2, the latter extending on either side of the side faces of the arm I as shown in Fig. 1. The claw 2 projects, as at 2', below the lower edge 3 of arm I.

shown in Fig. 2, the claw 2 provides a form of hook whose vertical plane leans somewhat to- Wards the lower edge 3. The wide section 4 of the arm I is provided with an integral horizontal pipe section 5 of a length substantially equal to the width of section 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the claw arm I projects from the pipe section 5 and extends far beyond the open end B. In general the arm I is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the plane of the open end 1. Further, the cross-sectional diameter of pipe section 5 is approximately two to three times the thickness of arm I. The dimensions given 2 Claims.

2 herein are al1 illustrative. Fig. 2 shows the desired relation of the elements of the claw arm. The claw arm and its terminal elements 5 and 2 may be made of malleable iron, cast steel or any other metal suitable for the purpose.

One of the advantages of my claw tool is its flexibility of use. The elements or devices required to assemble the claw tool into an operative device for straightening bumpers are available in any garage or workshop. All that is required are standard pipe sections, threaded studs and nipples or couplings. For example, in Fig. 2 I have shown a threaded standard stud 8, of a length substantially greater than the length of section 5, located within the bore of the latter. The internal bore of section 5 is not threaded. The threaded ends 9 and lil of stud 8 extend well beyond the respective open ends 6 and 'I of pipe section 5. The stud 3 may be a short pipe section whose ends 9 and II] are externally threaded, or, if desired, it may be a solid cylindrical rod whose ends are externally threaded.

The long standard pipe section II functions as the manipulating handle. The end I2 of handle II is externally threaded whereby the internally threaded nipple or standard coupling I3 is adapted to securely join or couple the stud end I0 to threaded end I2 of handle II. The opposite threaded stud end 9 has threaded thereto an internally threaded nipple or coupling III. The short nipples I4 and I3 have substantially the same outer cross-sectional diameters as that of pipe section 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The peripheral edge III (see Fig. 4) may serve as a pivot or ulcrum edge in certain operative applications. In others there may be threaded to the internal bore of nipple I4 an additional threaded stud I5, as depicted at Fig. 3, of any desired suitable length. The relative dimensions of the handle pipe II, stud 8, nipples I3 and I4 may vary in accordance With the wishes of the user of the claw tool. The user will, of course, use a length of pipe Ii such as to provide adequate leverage for the straightening job. The nipple I4 may be shorter or longer depending on the requirements of the work.

The present tool has many uses in the garage and auto mechanics shop. Where a Stillson wrench will mar land scratch the chromium nnish of bumpers, my present tool will leave virtually no marks. Figs. 3 and 4 show two applications of the tool. In Fig. 3 the front or rear bumper guard has had its end section I6 bent inwards. The end I6 is readily straightened into normal position by positioning the claw 2 as lever arm 23.

3 shown in Fig. 3, the claw section 2 being located on the rear of the bumper end. A piece of wood I'I is positioned between the stud I5 and the nished face of end section I6 so as not to mar the nish of the bumper guard.

Pressure is now applied at handle II in the direction of the arrow thereby to pull the end section I6 into correct pcsition. Actual practice has shown that there is saved hours of labor in straightening operations caused by car collisions, and with no marring of the bumper nish. In Fig. 4 the tool is shown in use to restore the vertical prole of a bumper guard. Assume that the upper edge I8 of the bumper has been pushed inward due to a collision, the claw 2 is locatedas shown. The peripheral edge I 4' of nipple `I4is located at the bolt head, and then pressure vis applied to handle I I in the direction of the arrow. The edge I8 will be quickly restored to its original form.

Besides bumper guards my tool is readily used to straighten and restore `the form of spring hangers, parts of twisted chassis frames and other parts of automobiles dicult to straighten. Many hours of labor are thus saved by the mechanic in collision repair work. In the claw tool shown in Fig. 2 the relation between the varm I and base is xed. The angular relation may be varied by employing the modied embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6.

In this modication the handle II vmay be a pipe or any suitable bar. Its end I2 is not threaded, but is tted snugly into the cylindrical socket or bore of the base 5. The base 5 has lonly one open end. The cylindrical base 5' is provided with a median bifurcated vertical extension 2l, 22. Between the spaced plates 2|, 22 there is received a desired-portion of the The left end of lever arm ,23 is provided with the claw 2, whereas the rear half of arm23 is provided with a line of spaced apertures 24 for permitting adjustment'of the lever position.

A pin 25 is provided for locking the lever arm 23 ata desired angular position relative to the .,i,

handle or Work. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pin 25 has alock nut 26. To adjust the lever arm 23, it is only necessary to remove lock nut 26, pull out pin 25 and shift the lever 23 to locate a desired opening 24 in line with the spaced aligned apertures provided adjacent the upper 4 ends of bifurcated extensions 2| and 22. The modified tool of Figs. 5 and 6 is used in the same manner as the tool shown in Fig. 2. The flat face of the closed end of base 5 serves as an abutment surface.

It will now be seen that I have provided a clawlike tool for straightening deformed parts of a car. My novel tool essentially consists of a lever arm provided at one end with a hook-like element, and at its-opposite end with a device for receiving an operating handle, and the latter device also functioning to provide a pivot point yfor the lever arm to be positioned adjacent the part of a car, as a bumper guard, to be straightened.

What I claim is:

v1. A claw tool consisting of an arcuate arm, a claw element provided at an end of the arm, a

short. pipe section having open ends integral with the opposite end of the arm, a stud located within said pipe section, having its ends threaded and extending beyond the open ends of the pipe section, a handle pipe, means coupling one end of the handle pipe to one of the threaded stud ends, and a nipple secured to the opposite threaded stud end.

2. In a straightener tool for collision repair work, a lever arm provided with a hook at its free end, a pipe provided with at least one open end and integral with the opposite end of the arm, a threaded stud within said pipe vand extending past said open end, an internally threaded nipple joined to said stud and abutting said open end of said pipe, and a handle having one end externally threaded and engaging the interior of said nipple.

ALFRED ALEXANDER S. HAKKERUP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 909,182 Hart Jan. 12, 1909 1,658,358 Snapp Feb. 7 1928 1,846,933 Barnes Feb. 23, 1932 2,330,013 Schultz Sept. 21, 1943 2,425,556 Nielsen Aug. 12, 1947 2,464,002 Snyder Mar. 8, 1949 2,489,088 Hewitt Nov. 22, 1949 

